Broad bean question

[caroline7758]

I'm really enjoying my broad beans this year and have a great crop, but I'm wondering, does there come a time when it's brest to strip the rest of the pods off the plants to stop them getting too big/ old? If so, how do i know when that point is?

[caroline7758]

[Digeroo]

For me they go rather mealy.  I prefer them young and tender.  The pods tend to start getting little lumps on them.  I prefer them before the top of the bean goes dark. 

I leave a few of the longest best looking pods to use as seeds next year.  I have a race with the voles to ensure they are a dry as possible but once they do dry the voles strip them very quickly.

[ancellsfarmer]

Look at the row and decide whether most of the beans are the same size; ie when flowering has slowed to a crawl and most are right size for you. Can be worth cutting down the plants to 9" and waiting for side shoots to spring up from the base. Only worth  while if you have no immediate need to plant the next crop,